Russian forces are increasingly using jet-powered drones and Banderol loitering munitions, making it more difficult for Ukraine’s air defense to intercept aerial threats, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said during a television broadcast.
“The enemy has begun using Banderol loitering munitions more frequently—a hybrid between a drone and a missile. The share of jet-powered UAVs is steadily increasing. We are seeing the enemy deploy jet-powered drones more often across different sectors,” Ihnat said.
According to him, Russia launched a total of 96 aerial weapons during the overnight attack on July 20, including various types of drones and guided air-launched missiles.
Ihnat noted that jet-powered UAVs travel much faster than conventional drones, requiring Ukrainian forces to use both surface-to-air guided missiles and combat aircraft to intercept them.
“Banderol is a standard target for air defense because its flight characteristics are similar to those of a cruise missile. It has a flight speed of about 600 kilometers per hour,” the Air Force spokesperson said.
He also explained that Banderol loitering munitions are typically launched from Russian Orion unmanned aerial vehicles operating over the Black Sea. These platforms have frequently been used to carry out strikes on the Mykolaiv and Odesa regions, although the munition can also be launched from other types of aircraft.
